Agendas, reports and minutes

Minutes of Meeting of the Black Isle, Dingwall and Seaforth Committee held remotely via Microsoft Teams on 7 July 2020 at 10.30 am.

Present:

Mr G Adam, Mrs J Barclay, Mr C Fraser, Mr G MacKenzie, Mr A MacKinnon, Mrs A MacLean and Mrs M Paterson.

In attendance:

Mr M MacLeod, ECO, Infrastructure and Environment
Mrs C McDiarmid, ECO, Customer and Communities
Mr P Senior, ECO, Education and Learning
Mr M Rodgers, Executive Chief Officer - Housing and Property
Mrs A Clark, Head of Policy and Reform
Mrs D Ferguson, Senior Ward Manager, Chief Executive’s Office
Ms D Agnew, Ward Manager (Black Isle, Dingwall and Seaforth), Chief Executive’s Office
Mrs A MacArthur, Administrative Assistant, Chief Executive’s Office

Also in attendance:

Ms Rhona Fraser, HIE, Head of Strengthening Communities and Regional Development
Mr Peter Macphee, Emergency Planning Officer, NHS Highland
Mr Jon Palmer, Chair, Black Isle Partnership
Ms Shona Street, Community Support and Information (Ross-shire Voluntary Action)

An asterisk in the margin denotes a recommendation to the Council.  All decisions with no marking in the margin are delegated to the Committee.

Preliminaries

A note of thanks was expressed to Mr Mark Rodgers, Executive Chief Officer - Housing and Property and his team for their involvement in a Christmas tree business and the related accommodation for workers undertaking vital tree husbandry which had saved a Black Isle company a considerable sum of money.

Councillor Margaret Paterson expressed sincere thanks to Mr Robbie Bain, Ward Manager for Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh area and co-worker to Di Agnew, Ward Manager, Black Isle, Dingwall and Seaforth.   Councillor Paterson said “I was very sad to hear that Robbie had left the Council.  Robbie contributed significantly and worked across areas and a true gentlemen and I and my fellow Councillors wish him all the best for the future. His knowledge of the West Coast was second to none and after 17 years of service to the Council he will be sorely missed”. 

Business

1.  Apologies for Absence
Leisgeulans

There were no apologies for absence.

2.  Declarations of Interest
Foillseachaidhean Com-pàirt

Item 3: Mrs A MacLean (non-financial).

Item 3: Mrs M Paterson (non-financial).

3.  Return of Schools Update
Sgoiltean a’ Fosgladh A-rithist

Mrs A MacLean and Mrs M Paterson declared non-financial interests in this item on the grounds that they had family members involved in schools, but, having applied the test outlined in Paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, concluded that their interests did not preclude their involvement in the discussion.

A verbal update was provided by Paul Senior, Executive Chief Officer, Education and Learning on the plans and preparations for schools reopening.

Paul Senior gave thanks to everybody involved in the work involved in preparing for the return to schools from parents, teachers and carers to colleagues in facilities management, catering and all support staff.

Option A was the preferred Scottish Government option with schools due to re-open fully in August 2020 with a 100% return to school and no social distancing.Other options available had been Option B for a 100% return to school with one metre social distancing and option C for a 50% return to school with two metre social distancing and a blended method of learning.

An intensive programme of engagement had begun with many consultation events.Eleven sub groups had been set up through the Programme Office covering transport, catering, facilities and local agencies to ensure school settings were ready for August.A webpage had also been created which included frequently asked questions (FAQs) for parents and carers at www.highland.gov.uk/backtoschool.  This site would be updated as new information became available. 

In discussion, the following main points were raised:-

• Information was requested and provided on which of the 11 sub-groups was to deal with our young people, modern apprenticeships and working with our third sector more closely and the people involved in these sub-groups;
• Following the Benny Higgins report (from an independent advisory group formed by the Scottish Government) information was sought and provided on apprenticeships and vocational qualifications;
• Information was sought and provided on the action being taken to address anxiety experienced by both staff and children returning to school;
• Information was sought and provided on the difficulties apparent if we were to revert to Option C;
• Information was sought and provided in relation to any requests received for ongoing home schooling;
• Information was sought and provided on whether there would be a targeted communications campaign for the return to school; and 
• Further information was sought and provided on Covid-19 testing of teachers prior to school restarting by Mr Peter Macphee.

The Committee NOTED the verbal update.

4.  Highland Council and Local Community COVID-19 Response
Comhairle na Gàidhealtachd agus Freagairt COVID-19 na Coimhearsnachd Ionadail

i. The Highland Council’s response to Covid-19

The Ward Manager provided a verbal report on the Highland Council’s Local Community Hub.  The Ward Manager explained that humanitarian assistance centres (HACs) had been established as part of the emergency response to support key groups within the community that would be vulnerable to Covid.  The presentation provided detailed information on the types of support that had been provided; the local arrangements that had been established; the key learning opportunities and challenges; an outline of the next steps and how the Council would continue to work within the local communities; financial information on the local funding for community support and how this had been distributed; and information on the Business Grant support that had been awarded to businesses across the Black Isle, Dingwall and Seaforth area.

It had been a true team effort with input and help from many volunteers from High Life Highland, The Highland Council, Community Councils, Community Resilience Groups, NHS, Social and Children’s Services and school, Red Cross, CAB, RVA local businesses, Mid Ross Emergency Liaison Group and Community Partnership.  The Ward Manager thanked all those involved.

The Chairman thanked the Ward Manager for her tireless work to bring everyone together and to give support to the community through the hubs. 

The Committee NOTED the verbal update and presentation. 

ii. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) – Supporting Communities Fund and Business Grants

Rhona Fraser, Head of Strengthening Communities and Regional Development, HIE Inner Moray Firth Area Team provided a verbal report.  Numerous conversations had taken place with Scottish Government and assistance was up and running within a short timescale.  HIE had a good relationship with the Ward Manager and with partner and local anchor agencies.  At this time £1.8 m had been approved directly into the Highland region, within this there were 66 local anchor organisations with which HIE had a close working relationship to distribute the funds.  Contact with the local agencies ensured there was no duplication and that money went where it was needed most and Rhona outlined some of the support that had been given.  Having worked with these agencies there was the possibility of a role going forward to continue working and supporting the community. 

The Committee NOTED the verbal report.

iii. Black Isle, Dingwall and Seaforth Community Response

Jon Palmer, Chair, Black Isle Partnership and Shona Street, Community Support and Information Ross-shire (RVA) provided a verbal report.  Jon Palmer outlined that support to the community was about pooling resources and expertise with other agencies.  Existing groups had already provided assistance to vulnerable people and a simple expansion of their operations had been very efficient with an immediate and impressive response.  30% of the population of the Black Isle was over retirement age so the focus had been more on supporting businesses that had lost income and on people’s wellbeing.  Concern was expressed at the expected influx of tourists over the following weeks and a campaign had been initiated within the community with four key messages:- support local businesses, respect local needs, stay apart and keep connected.  The key messages would be displayed on posters throughout the Black Isle area.  Volunteer fatigue was a further concern if a second spike in infection was to occur.    Going forward it would be helpful if financial support could be provided to employ people as community liaison officers.

Shona Street, Community Support and Information, Ross-shire Voluntary Action.  The community support had been truly amazing.  Food Share in Dingwall was an example of a request for funding.  There were vast numbers of volunteers that still had to be utilised and this needed to be utilised going forward to share the burden and help avoid volunteer fatigue.  Di Agnew’s support was again commended. 

During discussion, the following main points were raised:-

• In the future there needed to be a way to harness funding requests from the community not covered in the existing funding provided; and
• This Covid experience had highlighted people who had thought they would never have financial difficulties and how these people required assistance moving forward to build their resilience.

The Committee NOTED the verbal reports.

5.  Recovery Phase
Ceum Ath-shlànachaidh

i. Rebooting the Highland Economy - THC Malcolm Macleod, Executive Chief Officer – Infrastructure and Environment and HIE Rhona Fraser, Head of Strengthening Communities and Regional Development.  Malcolm MacLeod stated that this had been a very challenging time and approximately £67 million had been given to approximately 6,000 applicants.  Several businesses had fallen through the gaps in funding and work was continuing with HIE to recognise these businesses.  A guide had been circulated to hospitality businesses on the use of outdoor places and how these could be utilised with licensing, planning and roads elements to allow the use of these spaces.

£1.9 m in funding had been received to implement the Spaces for People Programme to give our people the confidence to socially distance and to build on active travel.  Preparation was also under way with Skills Development Scotland, DWP and HIE for the immediate unemployment challenges and to work to provide a co-ordinated approach for the immediate fall out. 

The big challenge would be with the long term recovery.   The working relationships between the agencies had been promising and an economic partnership had been set up to look at unemployment and local priorities. 

Capital project funding was important and would be investigated and the three priorities for focus would be the low carbon agenda and active travel; digital inclusion and the technology advances made within the Council during this period; and partnership working with the benefits this involves. 

Feedback from Members was sought with a prospectus of projects to bring forward from the Area Committee would be advantageous.

ii. Public Health Dimension – Peter MacPhee, Emergency Planning Officer, NHS Highland.

There had been 281,000 tests across Scotland to date carried out through the NHS and UK government testing programme.  Of these 18,300 had proved positive being a rate of approximately 6.5%.  Within NHS Highland we had 375 positive cases.  The timing of the lockdown had been to Scotland’s and in turn Highland’s advantage in terms of the lack of community disease prevalent at that time and what has been seen since.  As the lockdown restrictions are lifted it is anticipated we are likely to see an increase in cases as tourists and other travellers come into our area and move through communities.    Attention is now being focused on the test and protect scheme.  The Health Protection Team and the additional staff trained will carry out enquiries and identify any close contacts whilst a person had been in the incubation period.  These people would then be contacted and requested to isolate.  People then having to isolate may provide challenges where tourists and people have come into the area.   The prospect of a second wave of Covid had to be considered.

There had been a massive impact on routine health services.  Every Board and Trust within the NHS had been under pressure to provide health care for Covid patients and there would be an inevitable backlog of cases to address.   There were many issues, with concerns relating to health issues; families under increasing financial pressures; the inability of people who had suffered loss to grieve properly; staff fatigue and stress.  Measures had been put in place to support staff.  

Moving forward excellent opportunities had become apparent and advantages could be taken of new and alternative systems utilised during the Covid period whilst also reducing the carbon footprint. 

During discussion, the following main points were raised:-

• Information was sought and provided on the timescales for widening the pavements;
• In relation to street spaces there was an email address (street.spaces@highland.gov.uk) where licensing, roads and environmental health picked up messages and measures would be put in place to make this information more prominent on the website;
• Information was sought and would be provided on whether carers could accompany patients in an ambulance and within patient transport provided for patients travelling to Inverness;
• Information was sought and provided on the planning service facilitating developer’s providing digital connectivity and charge point connectivity;
• Jon Palmer asked and information was provided on the possibility of resilience being built in whereby businesses were encouraged to diversify into other areas and not rely solely on tourism;
• Information was sought and provided on whether we were looking to work with the UHI on the skills required by young people going forward; and
• Information was sought and was provided on Remote Health both in the home and within emergency services;

The Council had to work with all the partner agencies collaboratively going forward and Members thanked everybody for their presentations and attendance.

The Committee NOTED the verbal reports.

6.  Minutes
Geàrr-chunntas

There had been submitted for confirmation as a correct record the minute of meeting of the Committee held on 25 February 2020 which was APPROVED, following a correction to Item 10 whereby Mr Mackenzie’s dissention be amended to read abstention.

The meeting closed at 4.40 pm.